Selectmen add dispatch consolidation to warrant

CLINTON — Selectmen set the warrant for the Sept. 15 special town meeting and kicked it up a notch.

In addition to the article funding the fire department radios, the issue that prompted the special meeting, the board added an article to fund consolidation of dispatch.

Currently, police and fire have separate dispatch centers.

While other communities explore regionalization of dispatch services, Clinton could essentially regionalize within itself by combining the two dispatch centers into one.

The article includes a $1 million price tag for the dispatch consolidation, with the expectation the number will drop substantially before the project moves forward. The radio communications committee had an estimate of $800,000, but that is without detailed review.

The fire department radios would be funded at $500,000, including a dispatch center for that department, leaving selectmen aghast at the idea it would cost so much more to consolidate dispatching.

Selectman Michael Dziokonski said he still did not understand why police radios functioned fine and fire department equipment did not.

"This $500,000, I'm going to hold my nose and vote for," he said, adding it does not preclude consolidation of dispatch services or bringing police radios up to the same level.

Selectman Bill Connolly Jr. said he supported the radio article.

"The fire department waited patiently," he said, but he said it was time for Clinton to explore regionalizing dispatch services, criticizing the idea "that we will perpetuate the idea that Clinton needs two dispatch centers."

He referred to "the dysfunction junction" of that setup in town while neighboring towns regionalized dispatch.

"The very least we can do is a consolidation of our dispatch services," Connolly said before making a motion to add an article to the warrant.

Town Administrator Michael Ward said key players had agreed in concept to the idea.

"We're at a crossroads," Connolly said, "spending half a million dollars and installing it in the wrong facility."

Dziokonski said the overall plan would be a $1.7 million project, according to consultants, upgrading emergency service communications and consolidating dispatch.

"The cost was mind-boggling," Dziokonski said, so the committee recommended the fire department portion only.

The radio proposal includes dual frequency radios that would allow shift commanders to communicate between departments.

Connolly said he still had concerns, but noted voters have approved it. Connolly said the goal would be to determine the real cost of consolidation, "so we can pull the trigger before we spend $500,000."

Any projects will have to go through a proposal and bidding process before the board awards a contract, Town Solicitor Robert Gibbons said. "There's a process involved that's going to take some time."

In voting for it, Dziokonski said he was doing so "because town meeting approved it. I think town meeting was wrong to approve it."

The warrant will also include several other articles funding old bills, potentially also funding police wages if a new contract is approved for that department, a road acceptance and $14,645 to fund the 5 percent match for a $292,900 grant funding an exhaust system for the fire department garage and breathing equipment.

In other business

•Selectmen approved a PTA road race; the fundraiser is slated for Oct. 25 and will include beer sales, necessitating a one-day liquor license.

•The board approved a name change for a liquor license held by Ercoli, Inc., changing the restaurant name from Ristorante Via Alto 27 to Clinton's Bar and Grille.

•The board is also moving forward with a petition of its legislators to change the treasurer and collector positions to appointed from the current elected status.

•Selectmen OK'd expanded Sunday opening hours for package stores, taking the request from the Wine Merchant and Apple Country Market. Based on a recently passed bill, the businesses could open as early as 10 a.m. on Sundays. The board also expanded closing hours for Sundays to as late at 11 p.m.

•The board approved a Personnel Board non-union salary study recommendation on a new wage schedule that will affect town employees not covered by a contract.

•Selectmen appointed a second constable, Thomas Bonci, in addition to Kevin Haley. The board considered three who expressed interest; Connolly nominated Bob Champagne, but received no second.